4.5.1.2 - Contact and non-contact forces

What is a ‘force’?

A push or pull that acts on an objet , due to the interaction with another object

Is force a vector or scalar quantity?

Vector quantity

What are all forces either?

All forces are either :

• contact

• non-contact

What are contact forces?

Objects have to physically touch for the force to act

What are non-contact forces?

Objects can be physically separated for the force to act

List some contact forces.

• Friction

• Air resistance

• Normal contact force

• Tension

List some non-contact forces.

• Magnetic force

• Electrostatic force

• Gravitational force

What happens when two objects interact?

When two objects interact there is a force produced on both objects

What is an ‘interaction pair’?

An interaction pair - is a pair of forces that are equal and opposite and act on two interacting objects